Pre-BuyinG Anxiety!! :(

[Armistad123]

Ive been reading around on these forums alot, and ive finally gone and chosen the parts i want for my computer. This is my first time building, so im hoping that its not too hard, and that i wont seriously mess something up. Here it is.

Motherboard: ABIT IS7,Intel 865PE chipset for Socket 478 P4 ATX motherboard RETAIL
Processor: Intel Pentium 4 / 2.8CGHz 512k socket 478 Hyper Threading Technology 800 MHz FSB - RETAIL
Case: CHIEFTEC Server Chasis (Aluminum Workstation Tower with Plastic Front Cover) BLACK w/450Watt Foxconn Power Supply & acrylic window **Now with 2 x Front USB2.0 and 1 x Firewire IEEE1394 ports**
RAM: KINGSTON HyperX Series 184-pin 1GB Kit (2x 512MB) DDR433 (PC3500) DDR RAM modules, Model# KHX3500K2/1G
HD: Seagate 120GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive Barracuda 7200.7 ST3120026AS - OEM
CD-RW: Lite On 52x32x52x Black Color CDRW Drive LTR-52327S - OEM
DVD-ROM: LITE-ON XJ-HD166/XJ-HD 165H 16X DVD ROM Drive BLACK- OEM48X CD-ROM
Speakers: Logitech Z640 5.1 Speaker ? RETAIL
Video Card: POWERCOLOR ATI RADEON 9800 128MB DDR DVI/TV-out 8X AGP (Non Pro) RETAIL
Keyboard+ Mouse: Chieftec Wireless Keyboard and OPTICAL Mouse Combo, PS2 Retail


So, how is it?? I need EVERYTHING but a monitor, so am i missing anything small that i forgot to get?? like some cables and fans or something?? Im getting the processor retail, do i need to get thermal paste or something like that. How is the powersupply on the case im getting?? Im not too tight on cash, but i there is anything i could cut off that wouldnt really mess up performance please point it out . Otherwise basically how is the setup, ANY help would be appreciated, or if it looks good, some reassurance that im not making a bad choice in deciding to build this computer myself.

 

[dmw16]

Looks damn good to me. That should be a very nice setup. Doesnt look like you forgot anything. So hit the checkout button.
-doug

 

[cjsketchy]

floppy drive maybe? unless you don't want one. looks awesome otherwise. I would get the logitech mx duo instead of the chieftec kb & mouse though.

 

[Confused]

Looks good Only thing I would change is the kb/mouse, get a Logitech combo, the one with the MX700 mouse, I can't remember the name...but you'll be glad you did


And nope, you don't need any thermal paste for the CPU, as it comes with it.


Confused

 

[UncleWai]

Liteon is good for CDRW, but I don't like Liteon's DVD-rom.
My friend's Pioneer dvdrom is way better than mine.

Also you might want to spend some more money on keyboard/mouse.
Anything Logitech or Microsoft > chieftec.

 

[deadseasquirrel]

pre-buying anxiety is nuthin. just wait til the post-buying nagging starts if it doesn't pass the wife-factor. can't tell you how many times i hear "More computer stuff?" i think its gotten to the point that if it were ANYthing else besides computer equipment, it would be okay.

"No, honey, that's not computer equipment... it's pornography. I'm buying pornography."

"Oh, ok."

deadseasquirrel

 

[GaryShandling]

Upgrade to z680 speakers.


Booya.

 

[dmw16]

Yeah, i missed that keyboard and mouse. I have the crappiest keyboard on the planet. It was $1.99 AR from CompUSA. That was 4 years ago. But I do have a Logitech MX700 and love it. Get on, you'll be glad you did.
-doug

 

[Budman]

Looks good but I would get an Asus P4P800,wait I did get one.

 

[Armistad123]

Ive heard the Abit IS7 was the best for overclocking (correct me if im wrong though), althought i dont plan on overclocking now with a 2.8 C i might want to in the future, which is why i got the 3500 ram also.

 

[Corporate Thug]

i would stick to the IS7, nice overall setup. btw, if you have a frys nearby you can get hyperX pc3500 for $110

 

[Armistad123]

I was told that the Foxconn 450W power supply is bad, and since i dont want to get a crappy power supply i ditched the case and power supply, can anybody suggest a case and good power supply that is quiet, that is under 150$.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: Armistad123
I was told that the Foxconn 450W power supply is bad, and since i dont want to get a crappy power supply i ditched the case and power supply, can anybody suggest a case and good power supply that is quiet, that is under 150$.

Antec or Enermax.

I'd also get some Arctic Silver 3 for your CPU. Every little bit of cooling helps.

 

[dartworth]

Originally posted by: Budman
Looks good but I would get an Asus P4P800,wait I did get one.

Yes...ASUS rocks

Pick up the Antec Sonata case with the True 380W PS from Amazon for about $102 shipped.

 

[Armistad123]

I was looking at that Sonata case, but i want a power supply that will power my next system in the future as well when i decide to upgrade, so i was thinking like a 430 watt power supply, i wish that sonata case came with a 430 watt . Do any of you guys see any case/PSU combos for 150$ or less? with a 400+ PSU

 

[dartworth]

Nothing wrong with that power supply. This is what I run off mine.

Asus P4P800
2 X 120GB HDS
2 X Raptors
P4 2.4C @ 3GHz
CD Burner
DVD Burner
Couple of case fans
Zalman CPU cooler
AIW 9700 Pro
some PCI cards

But if you don't think the 380W is enough...take a look at the Antec 1080 it comes with a 403W PS

 

[Armistad123]

Do you think i would be able to run my next upgrade off that same 380W PSU?? If so, ill get it, the Sonata is supposed to be quiet too

 

[Corporate Thug]

Originally posted by: Armistad123
Do you think i would be able to run my next upgrade off that same 380W PSU?? If so, ill get it, the Sonata is supposed to be quiet too

yes, you can

 

[yabanci]

I'd say go with the sonata. The 380psu should is more than enough for this system - and if it ever comes to it, you can swap out the 380psu for a more powerful one in the future.

By the way, amazon is selling the sonota for $100 with no tax and no shipping fees.

 

[dartworth]

I really don't see why not. The Sonata is a nice case and quiet to. The PS only has one fan which makes the PS quiet too.

If for some reason the PS is not up to spec for your next upgrade, you could just sell that one and upgrade. Then you would still have a great case.

Seems like a lot of people think they need 550W to run their box. With a good quality power supply like an Antec, 300W - 400W is plenty.

 

[yabanci]

sorry for repeating the amazon tip - i didn's see that somebody else had mentioned it.

By the way, if you like the sonata but feel you need more power, you can always go to directron and order the sonata with a stronger powersupply - for example the antec true480 for $26 extra (i think the only difference between the stock sonata psu and the true480 (besides power) is the former has one fan while the later has two, so the stock would be quieter.)

http://store.yahoo.com/directron/sonata.html - look at options on bottom of page.

 

[capricorn]

Another vote for the Sonata. I just built a system using one last weekend. It's going to college next fall, so it needs to be quiet in order to cohabitate with humans. I used the P4P800 deluxe, because I just have very good results with Asus motherboards and I wanted IDE RAID. I bought a second cooling fan - a Stealth 120 mm one. I can't tell the difference in sound. Not much difference in cooling either. Probably could have gone without it. With a 2.6C P4, it's running about 34c idle and 38-39c under load. I had to turn off the other PCs in the room just to hear it. Only knock against the case is the blue lights on the front are really bright. I'm either going to put a switch on them or disconnect them (they hook into the drive power). They'd keep you awake if the front of the case pointed toward the bed.

Only other suggestion I'd make is round drive cables. If you go for the P4P800, the floppy cable could be 4-5" and reach. 10" is the shortest I could find. All other cables are 12" single device cables from the m/b's RAID IDE connectors and from the secondary IDE to the DVD/CDRW combo drive mounted in the top of the case. I did get and 18" dual device cable just in case, but didn't need it.

I bought all the parts from newegg except the cables and extra fan. Got those from coolerguys.com, because their cables are 1/2 the price of newegg and the shipping is more reasonable for the weight of a cable.

Edit here:

If you go with the Sonata, get black-colored peripherals, too. I put a (black) floppy in, and used it for its possibly only use: supplying the RAID drivers during the WinXP install.

-cap

 

[Armistad123]

Hmm, well im sorta computer noob (first time trying to build a pc) so i didnt really follow on the cables part. Dont the hard drive and the optical drives and the floppy drives all come with cables to connect to wherever they need to connect?? If they dont wouldnt i have to buy a cable for all of them?? SOrry this is probably a really stupid question.

 

[Regs]

I think Cooler Master cases are still the best. Newegg Link

Get 3 80 mm fans, 2 in back and one in front with a Antec PSU with intake/outake and you have a fridge for a case.

 

[Corporate Thug]

Originally posted by: Regs
I think Cooler Master cases are still the best. Newegg Link

Get 3 80 mm fans, 2 in back and one in front with a Antec PSU with intake/outake and you have a fridge for a case.

i luv my coolermaster case. unfortunately, it only has room for one fan on top (which does next to nothing for cooling, and 1 exhaust. had to get a little clever to add two 120mm in front